In the pure mind, at those ambiguous years, With me rc:ire from noise, and pain, and care,

Or vice, rank weed, first itrikes her pois’nous Embath'd in blits, and wrapt in endless ease: Or haply virtuc's op'ning bud appears [root; Rough is the road to fame, thro' blood and war;

By just degrees : fair bloom of fairest fruit! Sinooth is my way, and all my paths are peace. For, if on youth's untainted thought imprett, With me retire, from toils and perils free; The gen’rous purpote ftill fhall warm the manly Leave honour to the wretch! pleasures were made breaft.

for thee. As on a day, reActing on his age

Then will I grant thce all thy soul's desire; For highest deeds now ripe, Alcides fought All that may chaim thine ear, and please thy Retirement, nurse of contemplation sage,

fight; Step following itep, and thought succeeding All that the thought can frame, or with require, thought;

To steep thy ravith'd fenfes in delight : Nusing, with steady pace the youth pursu'd The fumptuous feast, enhanc'd with music's

His walk, and, loft in meditation, stray d Fittest to tune the inelting foul to love, (sound, Far in a lonely valc, with folitude

Rich odours, breathing choicest fiveets around; Converímg; while intent his mind survey'd The fragrant bow'r, cool fountain, shady grove; The dubious path of life: before him lay (way. Fresh flow'rs to strew thy couch, and crown thy Here virtut's rough atuent, there pleasure's flow'ry head:

[thy bed. Much did the view di: de his waving mind :

Joy shall attend thy steps, and ease shaīl smooth Now glow'd his b! cat with san'rous thuit of Thuie will I freely, constantly supply, Now love of careto fulier thought: inclin'd[ fame; Pleafures, not carn'd with toil, nor mix'd with

His yielling foul, andquench’dtherinny:lame: Far from thy reft repining want fhall fly, (woe; When, lo! far oił two femalu forms he 'ipies; Nor labour bathe in sweat thy careful brow,

Dired to hin their steps they fecin to icar; Mature the copious harvest shall be thine, Both large and tall, exceeding luman tize; Lit the laborious hind subdue the toil;

Both, far exceeding human beauty, fail. Leare the rath foldier spoils of war to hin, Graceful, yet each with diffrent gjacothey move;

Won by the foldier thou shalt thare the spoil: This striking acredawe; that,fofier winning love. These fofter cases my best allies employ, The first is native dinity furpats'! ;

New pleasures to invent, to wish, and to enjoy." Artlifand undnad the pleased the more; Her winning voice the youth attentive caught: Health o'er her looks a genuine luftre cult; He gaz'd impatient on the imiling maid;

Avui more white than new-fall’n snow she still gaz'd, and listen’d; then her name betought: August the trod, yet modeít was her sir, (vore: " Myname, fair youth, is Happiness,” the faid:

Serene her eye, yet verting hearinly fire. “ Wellcan my friends this envicd truth maintain; Still the drew near; and nearer still worc fair, They thare my bliss, they best can speak iny

More mild, appear'd: yet fuch as might intpire praise : Plcasure, corrected with an awful fear;

Tho' Slander call me Sloth (detraction vain!) Majestically firect, and a niably ferere.

Heed not what Slander, vain detracter, fays; The other daine feem'd ev'n of fairer hue;

Slander, itill prompt true merit to defame, But bold her mien, unguarded rov'd her eye,

To blot the brightet worth, and blast thc fairest And her futh'd checks confefsid at nearer view

name." The borrow'1 bluines of an artful dye. By this, aniv'd the fair majestic maid: All lift and delicate, with airy fuim,

(She all the while, with the same modest pace, Listuly fic danc'd along; her robe betray'd Compos’d advancd)“ Know, Hercules,” she said, Thro' the clear texture every truder limb,

With manly tone, “thy birth of heav'nly race, Height’ning the crisit wils fecm'd to thade: | Thy tender age that lov'd instruction's voice, And as it dow'd adora, 13 loote and thin, likin. Promis'd theegenerous,patient, brave,and wilc: Hurttature shex’dmore tall,morcinowy whiteher When manhood should confirm thy glorious Oft with a file the vicw'd herfilf askonce;

Now expectation waits to fee thee rile. (choice; Ev'n on ! 1.1 bade a conico::s look ihe thiew: Rise, youth' exalt thytelf, and me; approve Then all around her cast a careicis glance,

Tly high defcent from heaven, -and dare be To mark usliut gazing eves ! e beauty drew:

worthy Jose. As they came near, before that other maid But what truth prompts, my tongue shall not Approaching decent, eagerly ihe prefs'd

dilguife: With hatty ftup); nor of repulte afraid, (dress’d; The ticep ascent must be with toil subdu'd;

With firedom biand the wondring youth au- Watching and cares must win the lofty prize With winning fondues or his neck the hurg; Propos'd by Heav'n; true bliss and rcal good. Sweet as the honey-dew flow'd her enchanting Honour rewards the brave and bold alone;

She spurns the timorous, indolent, and base: “ Dear Hu cules, whence this unkind delay?

Danger and toil ftand ftern before her throne, Do youth, Viat dicinthus diftinct thy

And guard(foJovecommands)the facred place: Servir tollor ti here I lead the was, (mirdWho lecks her must the mighty cost fuftain, range thro’ wilds of pleature unconfin'd. And pay the price of famc-labour,and care, and

toigue.

ind

gage ?

Wouldst thou engage the gods peculiar care ? Fond wretch, that vainly weenest all delight O Hercules, th’iinmortal pow’rs adore !

To gratify the fenfe, referv'd for thee! With a pure heart, with facritice, and pray'r Yer the most pleasing object to the light, Attend their altars, and their aid implore.

Thine own fair action, never didft thou see. Or,wouldst thou gain thy country's loud applause, Tho'lulld with softest sounds thou lieft along,

Lov'd as her father, as her god ador'd? Soft music, warbling voices, melting lays;[fong Be thou the bold afferter of her caule;

Ne'er didit thou hear, more sweet than sweetest Her voice in council, in the fight her sword: Charming thusoul,thou ne'erdidíthcarthypraite! In peace, in war, pursue thy country's good; Now-to thy revels let the fool repair; For her bare thy boid breast, and pour thy gene- To such go finooth thy speech; and spread thy rous blood.

tempting Inarc, Wouldnt thou toquell the proudand lift th’opprest, Vast happiness enjoy thy gav allies!

In arts of war and matchless strength excel? A youth of follies, an oid age of cares; First conquer thou thyfelf: to cate, to rest, Young yet enervate, old yet never wise,

To each foft thought of pleasure, bid farewell. Vice wastes theirvi,,ur,and their minds impairs. The night alternate, due to fwect repose, Vain, idle, delicate, in thoughtless ease,

In watches waste; in painful march, the day: Rcfcrsing wocs for age, their prime they spend; Congeald amidst the rigorous winter's snows, All wretched, hopeless, in the evil days,

Scorch'd by the summer's thirst-inflaming ray. With sorrow to the verge of life they tend. Thy harden'd limbs shall boast superior might: Griev'd with the present, of the past alham’d, Vigour thall brace thine arm,resistlets in the fight.” | They live and are despis’d; they die, nor more “ Hear'st thou what monsters then thou must en

are nain'd.

[prove,” | But with the gods, and godlike men, I dwell; What dangers, gentle youth, she bids thee Me, his supreme delight, th’Almighty Sire (Abrupt, says Sloth) “ill fit thy tender age- Regards well pleas’d: whatever works excel,

Tumult and wars; fit age for joy and love. All, or divine, or human, I inspire. Turn, gentle youth, to me, to love and joy! Counsel with strength, and industry with art,

To these I lead: no monsters here thall stay In union mect conjoin'd, with me reside : Thine caly course; no cares thy peace annoy : My dictates arm, instruct, and mend the heart; I lead to bliss a nearer, finoother way:

The furest policy, the wilest guide. [bind Short is my way, fair, easy, smooth, and plain : With me true friend thip dwells: she deigns to Turn, gentle youth-with me eternal pleatures Thole generous fouls alone, whom I before have reign."

join'd. “What pleasures, vain mistaken wretch, are thine? Nor need my friends the various costly feast;

(Virtue with scorn replied)"wholeep'ft in cafe Hunger to them th’effects of art fupplies; Infenfate; whose soft limbs the toil declinc Labour prepares their weary iimbs to relt ; [rise.

That seasons bliss, and makes enjoyment pleasc: Sweet is their secp; light, cheerful, strong, they Draining the copious bowl ere thirst require : Thro'health,thro’joy, thro'pleasure, and renown,

Feasting ere hunger to the feast invite; They tread my paths; and by a foft descent, Whose tasteless joys anticipate defire,

At length to age all gently sinking down, Whom luxury supplies with appetite: Look back with transport on a life well spent ; Yet nature loaths, and you employ in vain In which no hour flew unimprov'd away ; [day. Variety and art to conquer her disdain. In which some generous deed distinguish'd ev'ry The sparkling nectar, cool'd with summer snows, And when, the destin’d term at length complete,

The dainty board with choiceft viands spread, Their alhes rest in peace, eternal fame
To thee are tasteless all! fincere repose Sounds wide their praile: triumphant over fate,

Flies from thy flow'ry couch and downy bed. In sacred song for ever lives their name.
For thou art only tir’d with indolence; This, Hercules, is happiness ! obey

Nor is thy sleep with toil and labour bought, My voice, and live: Let thy celestial birth Th'imperfect flecp, that lulls thy languid fenfe Lift and enlarge thy thoughts: behold the way In dull oblivious interval of thought;

That leads to fame, and raises thee from earth That kindly steals th’inactive hours away{the day. Immortal! Lo, I guide thy steps. Arise, [skies. From the long ling’ring ipace, that lengthens out Pursue the glorious path, and claim thy native From bounteous nature's unexhausted stores Her words breathe fire celestial, and impart

Flows the pure fountain of fincere delights: New vigour to his soul, that sudden caught Averle to hear, you waste the joyless hours ; The generous fame : with great intent his heart

Sleep drowns thy days, and riot rulesthy nights. Swells full, and labours with exalted thought. Immortal cho' thou art, indignant Jove [place, The mist of error from his eyes dispellid,

Hurl'd thee from heav’n, th’immortal's blitsful Thro' all her fraudful arts, in clearest light, For ever banish'd from the realms above, Sloth in her native form he now beheld;

To dwell on earth with man's degenerate race: Unveil'd the stood confcss'd before his fight : Fitter abode! on earth aliko disgrac'd ;. Falle Siren !- All her vaunted charms, that ihone Rejected by the wile, and by the fool embrac'd. So fresh crewhile and fair, now wither'd, pale and

No

As near the mifer's heavy doors they drew,
Fierce rifing gufts with fudden fury blew ;
The himble lightning mix'd with fhow'rs began,
And o'er their heads loud rolling thunder ran.
Here long they knock, but knock or call in vain,
Driv'n by the wind and batter'd by the rain.
At length fome pity warm'd the master's breaft
('Twas then his threshold first receiv'd a gueft):
Slow creaking turns the door with jealous care,
And half he welcomes in the fhiv'ring pair;
One frugal faggot lights the naked walls,
And nature's fervour through their limbs recals:
Bread of the coareft fort, with meagre wine
(Each hardly granted) ferv'd them both to dine;
And when the tempeft first appear'd to cease,
A ready warning bid them part in peace.
With ftill remark the pond'rous Hermit view'd,
In one fo rich, a life fo poor and rude;
And why fhould fuch (within himself he cry'd)
Lock the loft wealth a thousand want befide?
But what new marks of wonder foon take place
In ev'ry fettling feature of his face,
When from his veft the young companion bore
That cup the gen'rous landlord own'd before,
And paid profufely with the precious bowl
The ftinted kindness of this churlish foul.

But now the clouds in airy tumult fly;
The fun emerging opes an azure fky;
A fresher green the finelling leaves difplay,
And, glitt'ring as they tremble, cheer the day:
The weather courts them from the poor retreat,
And the glad mafter bolts the wary gate.
While hence they walk, the Pilgrim's bofom
wrought

With all the travel of uncertain thought;
His partner's acts without their caufe appear:
'Twas there a vice, and feem'd a madness here:
Detefting that, and pitying this, he goes,
Loft and confounded with the various fhows.
Now night's dim shades again involve the sky;
Again the wand'rers want a place to lie;
Again they fearch, and find a lodging nigh.
The foil improv'd around, the manfion neat,
And neither poorly low nor idly great;
It seem'd to speak its matter's turn of mind,
Content, and not for praife but virtue kind.

Hither the walkers turn with weary feet,
Then blefs the manfion, and the mafter greet:
Their greeting fair, bestow'd with modeft guife,
The courteous mafter hears, and thus replies:
"Without a vain, without a grudging heart,
To Him who gives us all, I yield a part;
From Him you come, for Him accept it here,
A frank and sober, more than costly cheer."
He fpoke, and bid the welcome table spread,
Then talk'd of virtue till the time of bed;
When the grave household round his hall repair,
Warn'd by a bell, and clofe the hours with pray'r.
At length the world, renew'd by calm repofe,
Was ftrong for toil, the dappl'd morn arofe;
Before the pilgrims part, the younger crept
Near the clos'd cradle, where an infant flept,
And writh'd his neck: the landlord's little pride,
Oftrange return! grew black,and gasp'd,anddy'd.

Horror of horrors! what! his only fon;
How look'd our Hermit when the fact was done?
Not hell, tho' hell's black jaws in funder part,
And breathe blue fire, could more affault his
heart.

Confus'd, and ftruck with filence at the deed,
He flies, but, trembling, fails to fly with speed.
His fteps the youth purfues; the country lay
Perplex'd with roads; a fervant fhow'd the way:
A river crofs'd the path; the paffage o'er
Was nice to find; the fervant trod before;
Long arms of oaks an open bridge fupply'd,
And deep the waves beneath the bending glide.
The youth, who feem'd to watch a time to fin,
Approach'd the careless guide, and thrust him in;
Plunging he falls, and rifing lifts his head,
Then flashing turns, and finks among the dead.
Wild fparkling rage inflames the father's eyes,
He burfts the bands of fear, and madly cries,
Detefted wretch !-But scarce his fpeech began,
When the ftrange partner feem'd no longer man:
His youthful face grew more ferenely fweet;
His robe turn'd white, and flow'd upon his feet;
Fair rounds of radiant points invest his hair;
Celestial odours breathe through purpl'd air;
And wings, whofe colours glitter'd on the day,
Wide at his back their gradual plumes display.
The form ethereal burfts upon his fight,
And moves in all the majefty of light.

Tho' loud at firft the Pilgrim's paffion grew,
Sudden he gaz'd, and wift not what to do;
Surprize in fecret chains his words fufpends,
And in a calm his fettling temper ends.
But filence here the beauteous angel broke
(The voice of music ravish'd as he fpoke).
Thy pray'r, thy praife, thy life to vice unknown,
In fweet memorial rife before the throne:
These charms fuccefs in our bright region find,
And force an angel down to calm thy mind;
For this commiffion'd, I forfook the sky ;-
Nay, cease to kneel !-thy fellow-fervant I.
Then know the truth of government divine,
And let thefe fcruples be no longer thine.

The Maker juftly claims that world he made,
In this the right of Providence is laid;
Its facred majefty through all depends
On ufing second means to work his ends;
'Tis thus, withdrawn in ftate from human eye,
The Pow'r exerts his attributes on high,
Your actions ufes, nor controuls your will,
And bids the doubting fons of men be still.
What ftrange events can ftrike with more
furprize,

[eyes?
Than thofe which lately ftruck thy wond'ring
Yet, taught by thefe, confefs th'Almighty just,
And where you can't unriddle, learn to trust.

The great, vain man, who far'd on coftly food,
Whofe life was too luxurious to be good;
Who made his iv'ry ftands with goblets shine,
And forc'd his guests to morning draughts of wine,
Has, with the cup, the graceless custom loft,
And still he welcomes, but with lefs of coft.

The mean fufpicious wretch, whose bolted door
Ne'er mov'd in pity to the wand'ring poor,

With